h. II.] PREY OF THE ECITOXS. 21 



Ecitons hunt about in columns, which branch off in 

 various directions. When a fallen log is reached, the 

 column spreads out over it, searching through all the 

 holes and cracks. The workers are of various sizes, and 

 the smallest are here of use, for they squeeze themselves 

 into the narrowest holes, and search out their prey in 

 the furthest ramifications of the nests. When a nest of 

 the Hypoclinea is attacked, the ants rush out, carrying 

 the larvai and pupse in their jaws, but are immediately 

 despoiled of them by the Ecitons, which are running 

 about in every direction with great swiftness. When- 

 ever they come across a Hypoclinea carrying a larva or 

 pupa, they take it from, it so quickly, that I could never 

 ascertain exactly how it was done. 



As soon as an Eciton gets hold of its prey, it rushes off 

 back along the advancing column, which is composed of 

 two sets, one hurrying forward, the other returning laden 

 with their booty, but all and always in the greatest haste 

 and apparent hurry. About the nest which they are har- 

 rying, all appears in confusion, Ecitons running here and 

 there and everywhere in the greatest haste and disorder ; 

 but the result of all this apparent confusion is that scarcely 

 a single Hypoclinea gets away with a pupa or larva. I 

 never saw the Ecitons injure the Hypoclineas themselves, 

 they were always contented with despoiling them of their 

 young. The ant that is attacked is a very cowardly 

 species, and never shows fight. I often found it running 

 about sipping at the glands of leaves, or milking aphides, 

 leaf-hoppers, or scale-insects that it found unattended by 

 other ants. On the approach of another, though of a 

 much smaller species, it would immediately run away. 

 Probably this cowardly and unantly disposition has 



